November 17 & 18, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2021
Serial number 4740, manufactured in 1861. Matching serial numbers on all major components including the wedge. 8" barrel with German silver front sight, marked in one line "-ADDRESS COL. SAM'L COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-". .44 caliber rebated cylinder marked "COLT'S PATENT NO. 4740", number "40" is double struck. Blue with case hardened frame, hammer, and loading lever. One piece varnished walnut grips. Frame cut for shoulder stock. Silver plated trigger guard. Iron backstrap with hand engraved inscription "HON E.O. PERRIN WITH COMPLIMENTS OF COL COLT" According to a letter written by R.L. Wilson dated May 18, 1971, Mr. Wilson believed the inscription to be the work of Gustave Young. All screws are original. Typically the frame screws used to mount a shoulder stock have a long stud like head, the screws on this revolver have rounded heads. Considering this revolver was factory cased without a shoulder stock these screws are correct and original to the revolver. Housed in a walnut partition fitted case with burgundy interior complete with correct powder flask marked "Colts Patent", blue two cavity bullet mold marked "Colt's Patent" on the sprue cutter and letter "K" on right side, blue combination nipple wrench/screwdriver, original Hazard Powder Co. packet of cartridges, Eley Bros. percussion cap tin, and a spare hammer spring. A number of known Colt Model 1860 Armies were presented to various high ranking Union Army officers and officials with similar inscriptions "With COMPLIMENTS OF COL.COLT" during mid-late June 1861. According to the book "The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver" by Charles W. Pate, book one of the Colt shipping ledgers from that time, listed on page 146 a box containing 35 Model 1860 Army revolvers and six of those guns are known presentations from Col. Colt, including serial numbers 1856 & 4257 to Col. James Cameron, serial numbers 1929 & 2119 to Major General N.P. Banks, serial number 4782 to Honorable F.P. Stanton, and serial number 4740 to Honorable E. Perrin. Photographed on page 368 of Pate's book is the backstrap showing the inscription to F.P. Stanton's gun serial number 4782, the inscription is nearly identical to the inscription on Perrin's gun serial number 4740. Edwin Oscar (E.O.) Perrin was born Dec. 3, 1822 in Springfield, Ohio and educated at Springfield Academy. He later studied law and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1842. He moved from Ohio to Memphis, TN practicing law there and was the Navy agent under Pres. Taylor. In 1857 he traveled to Kansas and took an active part in the canvas against the Lecompton Constitution. He was an assistant to Presidential Candidate Stephen A. Douglass from the State of Maine and apparently very active in the Democratic Party. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Perrin was dispatched by Secretary of War Cameron to New Mexico where he served under the command of Colonel Kit Carson, arranging supplies for the Union Army that was resisting the incursion of the Confederacy led by General Henry Sibley. Colonel Carson wrote favorably of Mr. Perrin’s brave & honorable service. He was subsequently nominated by President Johnson to become the Chief Justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court but the Senate rejected his nomination, apparently on political grounds, not for lack of qualifications. He was also rejected by the Senate when he was nominated to be the Internal Revenue Assessor of the First District of New York. Mr. Perrin was the Secretary of five Democratic National Conventions and in 1868 was elected Clerk of the Court of Appeals in New York and was reappointed to the same position by the court in 1870. At this time there is little known of Mr. Perrin’s activities after 1870 until his death in Dec. 1888. Accompanying revolver and case is a binder of much documentation supporting authenticity and information regarding E.O. Perrin. CONDITION: The revolver is excellent retaining approximately 75% original blue mixing with blue/brown patina. Frame shows 30-40% original bright case colors blending with patina. Loading lever shows strong original case colors mainly in protected areas turning to patina. Hammer has 40%+ bright case color with light pitting on the face. Cylinder is mostly brown patina with traces of original blue, showing a strong roll die cylinder scene and patent markings. All original unmolested screws. Most of the original silver on the brass trigger guard. Backstrap mostly bare metal with some original silver on top, beginning to flake. Grips are fine overall with most of the original varnish showing moderate wear. Case is very good with typical mars and dents with one sizable crack along the back of the lid. Hinges are tight. Interior is sound, showing moderate wear with some fading. Powder flask is very good with a dark patina, a few dents on the back, with one open seam. Bullet mold has been over cleaned in a couple areas showing approximately 45% original blue overall. Overall a very desirable Civil War period Colt with condition and important presentation provenance from Samuel Colt. Samuel Colt passed away on January 10, 1862 less than seven months after this fine revolver was presented. -MKS-
Accessories
Case, Accessories
Caliber/Bore
.44 PERCUSSION
Paperwork
Binders of Correspondance/ Letters to Previous Owner; Factory Letter